Best smoker barges 1-5 large [vol8]

[r129sl]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

r129sl said:

A bit of a barge reality check: on Friday the 124 had a new condensor fitted, necessary to remedy the non-functioning air con.

I need a condensor and the other key bit (is it the evaporator?) My man tells me it'll be expensive but wasn't sure how much. Do you mind saying what yours cost please?

I paid £163 for a Merc condensor from the Euro Merc Webstore, including delivery. The Merc price is £350. I have had two cheap condensors from Euro Car Parts, they cost about £100 each and neither lasted a winter. They are made for Merc by Behr/Hella. You can get them for about €200 from the various online motor factors, let me know if you need any help as there are lots of variations. I use Rexbo quite a lot. The cost of fitting was £108.

It could be the dryer you need. These are not expensive, about £25. You're supposed to replace the dryer overtime the system is opened but nobody ever does.

If it is the evaporator, it is a dash out job. Mine had to be replaced. It is not that uncommon a fault on 124s. The factory part has a copper/aluminium join and it gives in after a long time. I replaced mine with a Behr/Hella unit from Rexbo which from memory cost about €135. But it is the labour which is the killer on these. It would take an experienced hand a day and a half to r&r.

The main components of an air con system are the compressor, the evaporator and the condensor.

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

0a said:

r129sl said:

I agree with you: the 124 is a more satisfying all round proposition than the 129. But now try a 190...

I think I shall have to find a 190. 6 cylinders, air con and leather would be required for the full mini barge status though.

If my 2.6 Sportline had been auto I would still have it.

Another car for the R129 stable has just appeared on an all-Ireland for sale site that I keep an eye on. Same colour scheme as his recent 190e purchase, but 2.6 auto. £1300.

Personally I just couldn't.

Link? Because I really could. At that price I could even think of doing the 3.0 litre conversion. And I love the colour.

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

[idiotgap]

Just for reference my condenser and dryer cost £464 fitted by vehvac in 2011 - still going strong. Serviced and re-gassed a couple of weeks ago ready for our trip to France in July.
http://www.vehvac.com/

[r129sl]

mccrackenj said:

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

Cruel.

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

Cruel.

OK then. The ad's a bit sh!te, mind.

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/mercedes-...



What have I done . . . . ?

[V12 AMG]

harrykul said:

I love the interior of this car- dread to think what it would have cost...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C615971

The factory rear tables are electric and VERY cool. These look like a retro fit. Surprised that someone put that much money into a 420.
Rear tables are usually seen in the V12s and a few fully loaded 500s.

Unfortunately the tables in the W220 and W221 are not electric but have become a lot more common because of the reduced cost.

[r129sl]

mccrackenj said:

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

Cruel.

OK then. The ad's a bit sh!te, mind.

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/mercedes-...



What have I done . . . . ?

There is something very right about it. Thanks, John.

PS: I'll do my own research but I assume it is easy enough to import a car from the Republic?

EDIT: it looks easy enough to import a car from the Republic and so I have made enquiries of the vendor... Now watch Mrs r129sl dish out a might bking.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 20th May 16:01

[Strawman]

V12 AMG said:

harrykul said:

I love the interior of this car- dread to think what it would have cost...

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C615971

The factory rear tables are electric and VERY cool. These look like a retro fit. Surprised that someone put that much money into a 420.
Rear tables are usually seen in the V12s and a few fully loaded 500s.

Unfortunately the tables in the W220 and W221 are not electric but have become a lot more common because of the reduced cost.

I agree the interior looks good, the exterior though is revolting

[AllyBee]

0a said:

I have the SL and W124 booked in over the next 2 weeks with my mechanic.

The SL needed a fuel filter according to my internet searches - now in my possession for £12 - but the fuel smell has completely disappeared. Is there anything else that could cause a fuel smell?

There's an exhaust blow that CDG highlighted to me that I think still needs a little attention but it's making the v8 sound even better.

The w124 needs the brake pads fitting - what a lovey smoker. I put the r129 in the garage today and collected the w124 after 5 days and it drives so well.

The. w124 wins in terms of "rightness".

Edited by 0a on Wednesday 20th May 00:39

If this is the case then surely the 500e is the ultimate car? I appreciate that the cost of one is above the upper limit of this thread.

[0a]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

Cruel.

OK then. The ad's a bit sh!te, mind.

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/mercedes-...



What have I done . . . . ?

There is something very right about it. Thanks, John.

PS: I'll do my own research but I assume it is easy enough to import a car from the Republic?

EDIT: it looks easy enough to import a car from the Republic and so I have made enquiries of the vendor... Now watch Mrs r129sl dish out a might bking.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 20th May 16:01

WELL DONE!

[Sterillium]

This just seems incredible to me... £1500 for a Northstar 4.6ltr V8.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-X-CADILLAC-SEVILLE-...

[0a]

That's a great spot - I really like it. I have a soft spot for American cars. [I probably would never buy one in the UK though]. RHD as well.

[mccrackenj]

0a said:

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

I'll PM you later. But don't blame me!

Cruel.

OK then. The ad's a bit sh!te, mind.

http://cars.donedeal.co.uk/cars-for-sale/mercedes-...



What have I done . . . . ?

There is something very right about it. Thanks, John.

PS: I'll do my own research but I assume it is easy enough to import a car from the Republic?

EDIT: it looks easy enough to import a car from the Republic and so I have made enquiries of the vendor... Now watch Mrs r129sl dish out a might bking.

Edited by r129sl on Wednesday 20th May 16:01

WELL DONE!

F*CK!

I didn't expect that - and so quickly.

Well Done Jonathan (assuming it was you but, really, who else could it have been?)

I feel a not insignificant sense of responsibility; but, thankfully, Mrs Rodger doesn't know where my balls live!

Looking forward to another thread on Readers' Cars about an Ivory-over-Safari 190e being stripped down and sorted very soon.

Please don't tell me how easy it is to import from RoI to UK. All these cars are on the same land mass as me so I want to believe that importing one is a cumbersome, bureaucratic and expensive process.

Its interesting that for 'cultural and historic reasons' there are an awful lot of old Mercs in the Republic of Ireland - let's just say that the the % of old Mercedeses Vs old Jaguars and Rovers in RoI would not correlate with the relative proportions of same in UK. For that reason that particular site is a regular haunt of mine. Unfortunately the mad car tax regime down there means that all the more recent stuff - certainly the vintage that we're interested in - attract horrific road tax, hence nearly all the late 80s and 90s stuff is 2.0/2.2/2.3 4 pots. But the odd gem does turn up.

I'm just waiting for the euro to crash so that I can swoop and bag something really tasty.

Maybe I'll buy up a job lot of W124s and W201s and sell them on to my Barge Thread chums, with a small fee.

[r129sl]

mccrackenj said:

F*CK!

I didn't expect that - and so quickly.

Well Done Jonathan (assuming it was you but, really, who else could it have been?)

I feel a not insignificant sense of responsibility; but, thankfully, Mrs Rodger doesn't know where my balls live!

Looking forward to another thread on Readers' Cars about an Ivory-over-Safari 190e being stripped down and sorted very soon.

Please don't tell me how easy it is to import from RoI to UK. All these cars are on the same land mass as me so I want to believe that importing one is a cumbersome, bureaucratic and expensive process.

Its interesting that for 'cultural and historic reasons' there are an awful lot of old Mercs in the Republic of Ireland - let's just say that the the % of old Mercedeses Vs old Jaguars and Rovers in RoI would not correlate with the relative proportions of same in UK. For that reason that particular site is a regular haunt of mine. Unfortunately the mad car tax regime down there means that all the more recent stuff - certainly the vintage that we're interested in - attract horrific road tax, hence nearly all the late 80s and 90s stuff is 2.0/2.2/2.3 4 pots. But the odd gem does turn up.

I'm just waiting for the euro to crash so that I can swoop and bag something really tasty.

Maybe I'll buy up a job lot of W124s and W201s and sell them on to my Barge Thread chums, with a small fee.

Arrgh! Not me. st. Thank goodness. st. Thank goodness.

I'd even checked out the ferries and been to see my mechanic... Oh well, it wasn't meant to be.

Meanwhile, here's some barge goodness, no reserve at Historics at Brooklands, but have we had it before on Ebay? Front wings look dodgy.

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





And this XJ-S, estimate a bit over budget, leaper would have to go, but looking super:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





Plenty of other stuff of note there, too, including some no reserve RR Silver Spurs which inexplicably command love and affection in some quarters here. To be honest, a lot of the reserves look set too high (but what do I know) and there are so many entries that if they're to get through them all they may have to hurry, so there may be some bargains.

[Kinky]

S3_Graham said:

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Located near Farnborough. Otherwise destined for the tip prior to a house move.

Didn't realise you were in Farnborough? I work at the airport and live near Hook. ALawson that PM'd about my 124 is in Fleet. Thats 3 of us pretty damn close!

Make that 4. Work in Hook and live in Sunningdale

[mccrackenj]

r129sl said:

mccrackenj said:

F*CK!

I didn't expect that - and so quickly.

Well Done Jonathan (assuming it was you but, really, who else could it have been?)

I feel a not insignificant sense of responsibility; but, thankfully, Mrs Rodger doesn't know where my balls live!

Looking forward to another thread on Readers' Cars about an Ivory-over-Safari 190e being stripped down and sorted very soon.

Please don't tell me how easy it is to import from RoI to UK. All these cars are on the same land mass as me so I want to believe that importing one is a cumbersome, bureaucratic and expensive process.

Its interesting that for 'cultural and historic reasons' there are an awful lot of old Mercs in the Republic of Ireland - let's just say that the the % of old Mercedeses Vs old Jaguars and Rovers in RoI would not correlate with the relative proportions of same in UK. For that reason that particular site is a regular haunt of mine. Unfortunately the mad car tax regime down there means that all the more recent stuff - certainly the vintage that we're interested in - attract horrific road tax, hence nearly all the late 80s and 90s stuff is 2.0/2.2/2.3 4 pots. But the odd gem does turn up.

I'm just waiting for the euro to crash so that I can swoop and bag something really tasty.

Maybe I'll buy up a job lot of W124s and W201s and sell them on to my Barge Thread chums, with a small fee.

Arrgh! Not me. st. Thank goodness. st. Thank goodness.

I'd even checked out the ferries and been to see my mechanic... Oh well, it wasn't meant to be.

Meanwhile, here's some barge goodness, no reserve at Historics at Brooklands, but have we had it before on Ebay? Front wings look dodgy.

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





And this XJ-S, estimate a bit over budget, leaper would have to go, but looking super:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





Plenty of other stuff of note there, too, including some no reserve RR Silver Spurs which inexplicably command love and affection in some quarters here. To be honest, a lot of the reserves look set too high (but what do I know) and there are so many entries that if they're to get through them all they may have to hurry, so there may be some bargains.

Thank goodness indeed! I've never been more relieved to hear of someone NOT buying a car.

Not a big fan of early XJSs but that's lovely - sans leaper of course.

Edited by mccrackenj on Wednesday 20th May 22:43

[W00DY]

r129sl said:

And this XJ-S, estimate a bit over budget, leaper would have to go, but looking super:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





Plenty of other stuff of note there, too, including some no reserve RR Silver Spurs which inexplicably command love and affection in some quarters here. To be honest, a lot of the reserves look set too high (but what do I know) and there are so many entries that if they're to get through them all they may have to hurry, so there may be some bargains.

That is magnificent.

[Agent Orange]

r129sl said:

Plenty of other stuff of note there, too, including some no reserve RR Silver Spurs which inexplicably command love and affection in some quarters here. To be honest, a lot of the reserves look set too high (but what do I know) and there are so many entries that if they're to get through them all they may have to hurry, so there may be some bargains.

There's a lot of good stuff in that particular auction. This caught my eye in particular... had I not just bought the SL I'd be all over this.
Estimate £5,000 - £6,000

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...

[cat220]

W00DY said:

r129sl said:

And this XJ-S, estimate a bit over budget, leaper would have to go, but looking super:

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2015-06...





Plenty of other stuff of note there, too, including some no reserve RR Silver Spurs which inexplicably command love and affection in some quarters here. To be honest, a lot of the reserves look set too high (but what do I know) and there are so many entries that if they're to get through them all they may have to hurry, so there may be some bargains.

That is magnificent.

Agreed, however the bonnet not being closed is annoying.

[RobinBanks]

Sterillium said:

This just seems incredible to me... £1500 for a Northstar 4.6ltr V8.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-X-CADILLAC-SEVILLE-...

Yes, I now realise that I want one of those.